You are waiting for a decision Bank card – asylum

Information about bank cards for asylum seekers with financial aid.

If you receive financial aid from the Swedish Migration Agency, this money is deposited onto a bank card. You will receive the bank card from the Swedish Migration Agency. Along with the bank card, you also get two different codes.

Image of bank card, type Maestro. On the light blue card it says Kontantkort in big letters.

PIN code and password

When the Swedish Migration Agency issues the bank card to you, you will receive an envelope with information about your numerical code (PIN code) for the card and an envelope with information about your password.

  • The PIN code is a four-digit card code that you use when you pay in a store or withdraw money.
  • The password is a four-digit code that you can use to check your balance (how much money is on the card).

Remember which numerical code you should use for the card and which one you should use for balance information. If you use the wrong code three times, your card will be blocked. The Swedish Migration Agency does not know your codes.

How to use your bank card

You use the card to make in-person purchases from any business in Sweden that accepts Maestro. The bank card can only be used in Sweden. You cannot use it to for online purchases, mail orders, or any other place where you cannot draw your card through a card reader.

You must approve all purchases and withdrawals using your PIN code.

Maestro logotype.

The bank card also works at unattended petrol stations. When you refill your petrol tank, SEK 1,500 is reserved on the card. If you do not have that much money on your card, you can refill your tank with petrol costing the amount available on the card. Once you are done refilling, the reservation of SEK 1,500 is released after a few minutes, and only the amount of petrol you actually used is charged to the card.

You cannot deposit money on the card, nor do you earn any interest. The Swedish Migration Agency has the right to review your card, for example to verify that our payments to the card are going through properly.

How to withdraw cash with your bank card

To get cash, you can

  • withdraw money from an ATM that has a Maestro symbol
  • withdraw money at the checkout at any ICA store
  • withdraw cash from a shop when you pay with your bank card. Please note that this is subject to cash availability at the business in question.

There is a limit to the amount of cash that can be withdrawn:

  • SEK 3,000 per occasion at ICA stores (subject to cash availability at checkout)
  • SEK 5,000 per occasion at the ICA Bank ATMs
  • SEK 2,000 per occasion at other ATMs
  • SEK 15,000 in total during a calendar week (Monday–Sunday), regardless of where you withdraw money.

Check your card’s period of validity

On the front of the card is the month and year when the card expires. One month before the expiry date, you can visit a Swedish Migration Agency Service Centre to replace your card.

Check your balance

There are several ways to check your balance, i.e. how much money is on your card:

  • In an ICA store, using your bank card and PIN code.
  • Online, by logging in to www.kontantkort.icabanken.se External link..
  • Via ICA Bank’s smartphone app.
  • Via an automated voice answering system (self-service via telephone), by calling ICA Bank at 033‑47 47 50.

Most often, you will need your password and case number to check your balance. Your case number is the number listed under the photo on your Asylum Seeker card. You can learn more about your card balance and how to keep track of it on the paper you received with your card.

If you lose your card

If you lose your bank card or it is stolen, you should block the card as soon as you discover it is gone. Call ICA Bank at telephone number 033‑47 47 50. You must provide your case number when you call.

Important to consider

  • The card is a personal value document that should be kept in a secure manner. You have a personal responsibility to ensure that the card does not fall into the wrong hands.
  • Never store your PIN code with your bank card. Learn the code by heart and then destroy the paper with the code you received from us.
  • If you enter the wrong PIN code three times in a row, the card will automatically be blocked. If this happens, some ATMs may keep the card (refuse to dispense an inserted card).

When you are discharged from the Swedish Migration Agency’s reception system

Before you are discharged from the Swedish Migration Agency’s reception system, you must withdraw the remaining money on your bank card and return the card to the Swedish Migration Agency.

Read more about what happens after a decision

If you want to know more

If you have any questions about your bank card, please call your Unit for Reception or the Swedish Migration Agency’s Contact Centre at 0771‑235 235.

News

2025-03-05

The Swedish Migration Agency's new website has now been launched

On 5 March, the Swedish Migration Agency launched a completely new version of migrationsverket.se, with a new structure and a more user-friendly navigation. The purpose of the new website is primarily to make it easier for visitors to find the information they need.

2025-02-18

If you are retur­ning to your country of origin, you can receive support worth EUR 5,000

If you withdraw your application for asylum or if it is rejected, you can receive support from the Swedish Migration Agency. On 1 March 2025, the support we provide for efforts to help you and your family members reintegrate into society in your country of origin will change. The amount of support you can get depends on when you choose to return.

2025-01-30

Legis­la­tive change on accom­mo­da­tion and finan­cial support for asylum seekers

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2025-01-20

The Upper Secon­dary School Act ends on 20 January

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2024-12-16

Now you can see your complete deci­sion on My Page

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